Megabus adding Toledo-Ann Arbor route

People in Ann Arbor now have another option for getting to Toledo: discount bus company Megabus.com, which added a stop to the city March 14.

Megabus customers can already get to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Chicago from Toledo.

“There’s tons of people interested, so I’m hoping that’s going to work well for us,” said Bryony Chamberlain, director of operations for Megabus. “The college students of Ann Arbor have really helped us grow.”

Megabus is known for its $1 fares, available for customers who book early.

The bus company, which started April 2006, is a subsidiary of Coach USA and has transported more than 15 million travelers. Last year, 26,000 passengers traveled from Toledo, Chamberlain said.

Toledo’s Megabus stop is on the south side of Southwyck Boulevard, between Reynolds Road and Cheyenne Boulevard, and the Ann Arbor stop is on the west side of South State Street. The trip between Ann Arbor and Toledo is slated to take about two and a half hours and includes a stop in Detroit. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at us.megabus.com.

Toledoan Mike Ferner used Megabus 60 times recently when he held a temporary position with St. Louis nonprofit Veterans for Peace. (He traveled from Toledo to Chicago, where he picked up another Megabus route to St. Louis.)

After some misadventures and a few too many trips, he swore he’d never ride Megabus again, but now said he may reconsider.

“Ann Arbor’s a great town. If I was gonna go to Ann Arbor, I’d probably drive, but it depends,” he said. “Ann Arbor is a nice addition to [Megabus’] routes. Ann Arbor is a great town to go up to for the day.”

Despite not booking early enough to score a $1 ticket, Ferner said he chose to travel with Megabus to save costs for the nonprofit he worked for. He also said taking buses helps reduce energy consumption.

“I’d give [Megabus] overall maybe a C-plus or B-minus,” he said, adding the buses were typically clean and the drivers good at what they do.

Customers have a better chance of getting those $1 fares if they book early, according to a news release. Fares increase as the travel date approaches.

The company is proud of its cost-efficiency.

“Megabus.com has rapidly become the travel option of choice for millions of people and today we’re excited to expand our offerings to and from Ann Arbor,” said President and COO Dale Moser in a news release. “As Americans continue to look for ways to stretch their income, we will continue to provide safe, convenient and affordable travel to Ann Arbor-area residents.”

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